EoS: Strollers aiming to do double over Selkirk

ROBERT SCRIMGEOUR

Civil Service Strollers will be hoping to do the double over Selkirk in the Football Nation Qualifying Cup second round at Riccarton 3G tomorrow (11.45am kick-off).

The match has been switched to the home of Heriot-Watt-University as Christie Gillies Park is unplayable. The winners of tomorrow’s tie face Vale of Leithen in the quarter-finals.

Strollers can take inspiration from their recent 4-1 win over Garry O’Connor’s Lowland League outfit in the South East Challenge Cup, but Civil boss Alex Cunningham knows Selkirk will have revenge on their minds having added former Dundee United midfielder David Robertson to their squad.

“We’re under no illusions it’s going to be another hard task for us, but the players put in a really good shift against Heriot-Watt-University last week especially in the first half, and if we can replicate the same level of performance then we’ll be fine,” said Cunningham with Strollers, Tynecastle and Ormiston the three East of Scotland sides to have claimed Lowland League scalps so far this season.

“I’m sure Selkirk would have been hurting after that result but David Robertson is a real coup for them and they still have a few goal threats in their team as they showed at Spartans last Saturday.”

The Strollers boss is also grateful to Heriot-Watt for allowing his side to play on the 3G, which has an early kick-off due to the students’ league clash with Coldstream on the same pitch in the afternoon.

“Our pitch is cutting up quite a bit, we haven’t been able to get the tractor on it so Heriot-Watt have been very helpful in allowing us to play.

“The early kick-off maybe isn’t the ideal time for everybody but it’s the only way we can get round it, and another positive result before the Christmas break would give everyone at the club a tremendous boost.”